Will the violence in politics become the ‘new normal’ in the US? The country marred by ‘gun culture’ witnesses many sporadic attacks by gun-toting men, who simply open fire indiscriminately, killing innocent men and women and children in most of the attacks.
But people across the world were shocked when a gunman fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
In less than two months, another gunman was found waiting for the former president on his West Palm Beach golf course.
The Secret Service agents opened fire and nabbed the man with an AK-47 assault rifle. The two incidents raised the fear that the US political system is vulnerable to violence.
House Committee: Secret Service Responsible For Lapse
Amid the escalating culture of violence, it was found in the bipartisan House task force investigation that the Secret Service was responsible for the failures in planning and communications that led to the gunman being able to open fire. The House Committee gave a clean chit to the local police of Pennsylvania.
Dangerous Trend Emerges
Though the attempts were foiled both times, prompt actions were taken, the security was further beefed up and US Secret Service Director Kim Cheattle resigned following the first incident, it upset the political system, which could see a new dangerous trend emerging. If a candidate in the Presidential Election is attacked or he is afraid of such attacks, how can he campaign freely and fearlessly? If a candidate cannot campaign freely, the entire process of election comes under cloud and the democracy is open to compromise.
Deepening Divisions, Increasing Polarisation
However, the trend being noticed by political experts for many years has been upsetting, though it was not discussed openly. The national political discourse has become worse and more aggressive, polarisation has increased and partisan divisions have sharpened. Besides, the candidate's behaviour has become hostile.
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But this type of violence is on increase in the US politics. As the public memory is not short, one can remember vividly how Donald Trump not only declined to accept the result of Presidential Election 2020, but he went on to instigate his supporters to capture Capitol Hill. Hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol Hill and wreaked havoc.
Elon Musk: Why No One Trying To Assassinate Harris, Biden?
Reacting to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, one of his staunchest supporters, Elon Musk asked why other people are not targeted. Tesla CEO Elon Musk questioned why no one was trying to assassinate US President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris. Though he was criticised for his comment, it indicated the level of toxicity in US politics.
Donald Trump: Fight, Fight, Fight
Donald Trump himself tried to score brownie points over the assassination attempt. He raised this issue at his campaign rallies and said that he had become a target of attack because he spoke out for the “forgotten” Americans. He urged his supporters to “fight, fight, fight” and it became a rallying cry for his supporters. Addressing an election rally, the Republican candidate said, "They’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you.” He added, “I’m just standing in the way.”
Political observers point out that Trump’s attempt to take political advantage will further encourage and give validity to the spiraling culture of violence in US politics.
Trump: Bullets Are Flying, It Will Get Worse
One of the reasons for validating violence in politics is the fact that the assassination attempt hogged the headline and created a buzz.
Reacting to the apparent second assassination attempt, Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Kamala Harris. Referring to his Democrat rival as 'comrade', he blamed her for propagating "Communist Left rhetoric". He said the left rhetoric had worsened the political culture in the US. The former president also accused Kamala Harris of lying at the recent "highly partisan" ABC debate. He said, "Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse."
Trump's running mate JD Vance slammed the US Vice President and claimed her allies had repeatedly called for Trump to be eliminated. Trump's running mate JD Vance slammed the US Vice President and claimed her allies had repeatedly called for Trump to be eliminated.
JD Vance: Attacker Donated 19 Times To Democrat
Taking to social media platform X, he wrote, "Kamala Harris has said that Democracy is on the line in her race against President Trump. The gunman agreed and used the same phrase. He had a Kamala Harris bumper sticker on his truck... he donated 19 times to Democrat causes and zero to Republican ones."
Political observers believe such attempts will only encourage the culture of violence in politics.